Goals from Gabriel Agbonlahor and James Milner left the Tigers three points from safety with three games to play.

The first of those sees Sunderland visit the KC Stadium on Saturday and Dowie concedes itâs a game Hull simply have to win.

âThis result makes it much more difficult but weâve got nine more points to play for,â he said. âWeâve got to make sure come Sunderland we put three points on the board â no question about that.â

Before last nightâs match, chairman Adam Pearson had spelt out the clubâs problems with a broadside at his predecessor Paul Duffen in his programme notes, describing his big-spending reign as âextremely short-sightedâ.

Pearson went on to claim Duffen had âno understanding of the [football] industry, Hull City or the city of Hull itselfâ.

On the pitch, Hull have shown little sign of a revival and Agbonlahorâs early strike dented their fragile confidence still further.

They should have levelled when Brad Friedel saved from Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, who was later stretchered off with a nasty head injury.

Hull enjoyed possession but there was no way back after George Boateng fouled Milner, who netted from the spot.